Double fatal Gateway West
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
800 E. Overland, 3rd floor, El Paso, Texas 79901
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Rick Glancey/Public Affairs Director
(915) 546-2285
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5290)
EMAIL: rglancey@epcounty.com
Release Date & Time: Friday, November 16, 2007 3:00 PM
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Patrol and S.T.I.).
WHAT: Double fatality.
WHERE: 14100 Gateway West (Between Sparks Rd. and Nonap), East El Paso County, Texas.
WHEN: Friday, November 16, 2007 at 3:44 AM.
WHY: Still under investigation.
FYI: El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a dispatch call of a roll over accident on the Gateway near the Sparks area.
Preliminary report: The driver of a white 2005 Dodge Ram (3500) pick up truck was traveling west on the Gateway when the Dodge crashed into the rear of a black Ford Explorer.
The impact was violent and severe. The Explorer traveled more than 500 feet from the point of impact and went airborne coming to rest on its side in the dirt median on the right side of the roadway. The driver who was wearing a seatbelt was thrown from the vehicle. His body was found on the roadway near the intersection of Gateway West and Nonap. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger who was also wearing a seatbelt was ejected form the car and was found pinned underneath the Explorer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver is identified as 42 year old John Richard Deririco of El Paso County, Texas. The name of the passenger is being withheld until next of kin have been notified. He is a Juarez, México resident.
The driver of the white truck is identified as Kevin A. Willis of Oakland, California. He was detained for questioning. He has since been charged with two counts of intoxicated manslaughter. His bond is set at $25,000.00 per count (total bond is $50,000.00). An investigation continues.
Kevin A. Willis
Mug Shot: Courtesy El Paso County Sheriff's Office
This is the fifth and sixth fatality of the year compared to 22 at this time last year.
No other information is being released at this time.